Engineering Path to Success Resources
To help engineering students succeed in their first year at Penn State, the College of Engineering developed the Engineering Path to Success. If a first-year seminar instructor uses this tool, students are expected to complete four activities, two required, and two chosen from a list of options. It is up to each student to consider what they will most benefit from (unless an instructor has specific requirements), plan when to do it, complete the activity, and complete the quiz/assignment for each activity in your class Canvas module.
Here are further resources for each of the activities.
Engineering Exploration Activities: REQUIRED
Every semester, the Penn State College of Engineering hosts various activities to provide pre-major students with more information about their academic options and help them to make informed major-selection decisions. Find events, recordings, and web resources here.
World In Conversation Dialogue: REQUIRED
Attend a World in Conversation Dialogue:
World in Conversation is a student-driven center for true public diplomacy dedicated to expanding human understanding of complicated social challenges through facilitated dialogue. These dialogues seek to examine society through the divergent views of people from different "sociological addresses".
Your FYS instructor will arrange for you to be contacted by the World in Conversation program via email to schedule a time to participate in a dialogue. Please respond in a timely manner to this email.
Additional Activities List
In addition to the two mandated first-year student activities, you must select two additional activities to participate in. Select from the list of activities below or some other PSU activity that is similar in nature (pre-approval from faculty is required).
Regardless of which activity you select, you will write a 1-page reflective essay about the experience.
- Attend an engineering student organization meeting. A list of organizations is located here. Link to the organization in which you’re interested to check their schedule of meetings and relevant contacts.
- Tour the Engineering Library. The Engineering Library is located at the west end of the third floor of the Hammond Building. Virtually tour the library here.
- Attend Spring Career Days. Contact Career Services at 814-865-5131 or at careerfairs@psu.edu for more information.
- Attend Drawdown event led by various Penn State student organizations. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humankind. To help foster a sustainability mindset for engineering students, we are partnering with several Penn State student organizations and offices to offer “Sustainability Sessions” based on strategies provided in Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. In these sessions, student organizations will introduce first-year students to Drawdown solutions that they support. It is a great way for students to learn more about local sustainability applications and how to get involved. Choose an activity to attend from the list of participating organizations below. Please check back as more Sustainability Sessions will be added throughout the semester.
- Attend a meeting of Collegiate Wind Competition and the Penn State Wind Energy Club. This club participates in an annual wind competition and there are lots of opportunities to get involved in designing and building wind turbines. Learn more.
- Attend a Sustainability Showcase presentation. The Sustainability Showcase Series makes connections between faculty research, personal and professional interest, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while broadening the discourse surrounding sustainability. Speakers are invited to give a thirty-minute talk, answer questions and hang around to mingle with attendees.
- Attend a meeting of the Penn State Solar Decathlon Team. No experience is necessary, and students from all majors are welcome. Contact Luke Scanlon at lfs5408@psu.edu to get involved.
- Complete “Academic Integrity” module.
- Attend a University (not engineering) student organization meeting. Find out about all of the Penn State student organizations here.
- Attend second Major Night.
Library
The Penn State Libraries are one of your greatest resources for information and knowledge. While the internet can be useful by itself, the Libraries have access to books and databases that are unparalleled and uncommon outside of academia. Did you know that the libraries
Envoys
Envoys are undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one co-op or internship experience and who help promote programs supported by both our office and the College of Engineering. They provide walk-in advising hours for engineering students and can answer questions about résumés, cover letters, interviews, and professionalism at work. They also reach out to engineering students, faculty, and employers through volunteerism at events, in special programs, and in classrooms.
Maker Commons
Maker Commons is a university-wide initiative to enrich the teaching and learning experience through 3D printing, rapid prototyping, design thinking, and direct support for students, faculty,
Student Affairs
The Student Affairs offices at University Park offer a multitude of services for students ranging from tutoring to health promotion and wellness.
